Foot supporter and heater



I FooT SuPPoR FILED AU Jan. 23, 1923.

6 1 3 T O, H 3 s 4 n 4, E 11 H S 2 R. E T. A1. E2 H9 .m, A3 ZAZ NR AE. PTG

Jan. 23, 1923.

| PANZA. Foo'r SUPPORTER AND HEATER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fl LED Aue. 23, l 921 Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES INNOCENTE PANZA, OF TURIN, ITALY.

FCOT SUPPOR'DER AND HEATER.

Application led August 23, 1.921.

To all wko/m it may concern Be it known that I, INNoCnN'rE PeNze, subject of the King of lltaly, -`and .resident of Turin, Italy, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Foot Supporters and Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

The ypresent invention relates to the foot supporters and heaters for use in vehicles, in which the heating is obtained by means of electric resistances, and has for is object a construction of said heaters comprising a folding frame which may be easily carried in and out of operativeposition.

This invention comprises also means for closing the electric circuit feeding said heating resistances when a traveller places his ileeton the heater, and for cutting oflthe same circuit as soon as the foot pressure isyremoved from the heater, for the purpose of heating the apparatus only when this is required.

Other features and advantages `of this invention a pear from the following specification anc Aappended claims.

The annexed drawings show by way .of example an embodiment of foot heater and supporter accordingto this invention, and Figure 1 is aplan view of the device in open position; Figure 2 is-the edge or side View; Figure 3 is a ASeCtiOInJnad-e on aline 3-3 of Figure 1showingthe device in,po sition ready for use; Figure shouts at an enlarged scale the .plugs `for the insertion ofthe device in an .electric circuit; Figure isny 'fragmentary sectional view showing En detail one of said plugs, and Figure 6 shows a complete diagram of the circuit.

As shown by l`igures 1, 2 and 3, the foot heater and supporter comprises ;t\vo frame sections 1 and l, preferably made of insulating material which are pivoted to each other along their adjacent sides by means of a pin or pivot 2, While each section is provided at the opposieside with a bar 3, 3 respectively.

At one end ofeachk of saidfbars 3,3are pivoted supporters 4, 4 respectively, adapted to be swung `into recess 5 provided in the ends of said bars 3, 3; ontheopposite ends of said bars are pivoted the heads 6, G which are 4provided with plugs 12, 12 adapted to enter-,the feeding sockets located on the vehiclefioor as hereinafter.' described.

Each bar 3, 3 may be provided with a recess l' near its end carrying said heads Serial No. 494,572.

(, 6 and plugs 12, 12 for the purpose of accommodating these yparts when the heater is removed `from the car andis foldedout of operative position.

Each frame section 1, 1 carries ya suit able electric resistance as 8, 8', each having one end connected to the respective head 6, 6 and the other end connected ,tocontact pieces f), 9 respectively. These contact: pieces are secured on the adjacent edgcsof the frame sections .1, 1, and they contact with each other Whenthe device is in open position, as shown by Figures 1, 2 and A(3. Said frame sections are preferably wrapped With fabric, felt or `the like to protect the resistances 8, 8, provisions being made for securing the Contact of the pieces,9,9. `Said fabric wrapper isshown bym20-in 'Figure l, being assumed to be partly broken off for leaving in view the underlying parts.

For using the device, tlvietwo framesettions 1, 1 are carried into alinement with each other as shown-by Figures kl., 2 and 6; the Contact pieces 9, 9 are thus .incontact with each other andthe circuit of the resistances 8, 8 is closed from one head 6 to the other one 6', Then the supports et andthe heads 6, 6 are carried in their positions shownby Figure 3 yand the,plugs 12 are inserted into the sockets 10, 10 secured to the car Vfloor 11 .and connected to the terminals of a battery 16. The device is thus kin operation.

When the heater is to bev putout ofoper-v ation, the operator .removes the plugs 12, 'l2' from the sockets 10, 10, lthus cutting otl' the ,battery circuit and ,leaving the device vl'ree froinany connection with the car floor, and then he swiugsthe supports 4, 4 into the recesses 5 and ,theheads 6, 6 into the recesses T and finally he folds theftwo-frame sections by -a rotatiouaround the ypivot the entire device being thusearriedytotake :z very reduced space.

This invention `provdesalso an arrangement for avoiding the useless current consumption which ,could `take place in Case the heater Wouldbe lforgotten inoperative position With its plugs 1,2, ,1,2 engaged in the sockets 10, 10. y

Said Yarrangement consists in the prov'zsion of anlautomatic switchwhich 'operates tovclosethe circuit only when a. pressure l,is exerted on the heater; .therefore when Ithe traveller has its yfeet on thedieatenthe resistance is fconnected .to vthe battery circuit llO ' and on the contrary said circuit and the cur- `shows an embodiment ot such an automatic switch. As shown in said ligure, the plug 12 solid with the head 6 is hollenT and encloses a spring 14e Whichabuts against said head 6 and against a pin l? travelling through 'slots' 18 provided in the walls of the plug 12; Vsaid pinl is solid With a rng 13y which is thereby tree to `slide along the plug 12.

The socket 1() has an enlarged mouth 19 having larger size than the registering end ot the plug 12, and is covered by an insulat'- ing cap 15 having la central. hole ttor the passage ot the plug 12.

Assuming that the device has `been opened and properly located as hereinbeforc dcscribed with regard to the sockets 10, 10', when no pressure acts on the heater trame 1, 1, the position' ot the parts is that shown byFigure l-that is the plug 12 is engaged and contacts with its associate socket 10, and theplug 12V is held removed from .its socket 10 bythe spring 14 which bears on the ring 13 bearing in turn on the insulating cap 15. The circuit is thus held open, but When a pressure, as the foot Weight, acts on the frame 1, 1, the spring. 14; is collapsed, the plug 12 iscaused to enterfthe mouth 19 and to contact with the socket 10, and thus the circuit feeding the` resistances 8, 8 is closed. When the pressure is removed from the trame 1, 1', the spring 14 acts to litt the plug 12 and the several partsare restored into the 'position of Figure Ll.

The construction of the automatic switch may be modied in a large number ot Ways which are all Within theranges ot thisv in vention. Say thespring contact member may be mounted `inone oic the stationary sockets instead of in one of the plugs carried bythe trame or an automatic or spring switch of any proper kind may bearranged on the frame section or on the car floor, or finally in the socket lO for the purpose ot closing the circuit feeding theheating sistances when the device isdepressed and ot cutting oli said feeding circuit when the device is released.

What ly claim as my invention and desire to secure by Unitedv States Letters Patent is:

` 1.v A foot supporter and heater comprising a support, electric resistances on said support, and means for removably connecting said resistances with the terminals of a supply otcurrent, these means comprising` cooperating contact pieces connected With said resistances and supply of current respectively, and means'for holding said pieces in open circuit position, the last named means being put out oli' operation to close the circuit When a pressure `is exerted on said support. i

2. il toot supporter and heater comprising a support, electric resistances on said support and means iter removably connectying said resistances with the terminals oi? a supply of current, these means comprising stationary pieces lconnected with said terminals, parts carried by said support and connected With said resistances, said pieces and .parts removably engaging with each other, an extension on one of said parts adapted to engage one yof said pieces, an insulating lining on this piece, a` member mounted to slide on said extension and a spring between the extension carrying part and said sliding member to resiliently hold said part and member separate trom each other and to allow their contact when the said supportis depressed.

3. A toot-supporter and'heater comprising members connected to each other, electric resistances on said members and means tor removably connecting'the ends ol' said resistances to the terminals ci asupply of current, these means including pieces con-- nected with said terminals, parts carried by said members and connected to said resistances, said pieces and parts removably enea 'ino` with eachother an extension on` one of said parts adapted to enga-ge one of said pieces, an insulating lining on this piece, a member mounted to slide on said extension, and a spring between the eXtension carrying part and said sliding member.

4l. 'A toot supporter and heater comprising sections pivoted` to each other along their adjacent edges, electric resistances on each of said sections, means tor connecting the ends of said resistances at said adjacent edges, and means for removably connecting the ends ot said resistances to a supply of current, these means including parts which hold the resistance circuit closed when the heater is depressed and cut oft said circuit when no pressure acts on the heater.

5. A toot supporter andI heater comprising sections of insulating material pivotcd to each other along their adjacent edges, electric resistances on cach ot said sections, means tor connecting the ends of said resistances at said adjacent edges, and means for removably connecting the ends of said resistances to a `supply of current, these means including parts which hold the resistance circuit closed When the heater .is depressed and cut oit said circuit when no pressure acts on the heater.

6. A foot supporter and heater comprising sections pivoted to each other along their adjacent edges, side' bars at the opposite edges of 1 said sections, supports pivoted to said side bars, electric resistances on eachv ot said sections means for connecting the endsfot said resistances at said ading sections pivoted to each other along their adjacent edges, side bars at the opposite edges of said sections, supports pivoted to said side bars, electric resistances on each of said sections means for connect- 10 ing the ends of said resistances at said adjacent edges, and means pivoted t0 these side bars 'for removably connecting the ends of said resistances t0 a supply of current, these means including parts which hold the resistance circuit closed when the heater is depressed and cut olf said circuit when no pressure acts on the heater.

Signed at Turin, Italy, this 3 day of August, A. D. 1921.

INNOCENTE PANZA. 

